Assembly unit



Aug. 6, 1957 R. A. SHAW ASSEMBLY UNIT Filed'Oct. 19. 1953 1....1... .7 .v t E. .4

V INVENTOR.

RICHARD A. SHAW FIG. 3

ATTOR N EYS ASSEMBLY UNIT Richard" A. Shaw, GreenvilIe R. I., assignor to Stackbin Corporation, a corporation of Rhode Island Application October 19, 1953, Serial No. 386,971

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-'126) This invention relates to an assembly rack of the type usually used for conveniently locating different wires whichhgo into makeup of an electrical device in which there is used, a number of different wires of different lengths or other different characteristics. Each Wire is located in a different pigeon hole orcompartment.

In the use of such assembly racks, each unit is an elongated container generally troughshaped and as different lengths of wire are assembled in different units, it is desirable to have some partition or dividing wall against which the inner ends of the wires may abut to uniformly position their outer ends.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a partition or dividing wall which may be adjusted throughout the length of the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of partition or dividing wall which will be held in the position to which it is adjusted without need of any additional securing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a partition or dividing wall which may be entirely removed from the trough-like unit when it is desired to use the unit for wires of the full length of the unit or longer than the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convenient means of adjusting the dividing wall to the desired location.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a rod which may be used for adjusting the position of the unit and graduate that rod so that the position of the unit may be determined from markings upon the rod.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of units assembled as a rack and illustrating in some of these units wires positioned for use;

Figure 2 is a sectional View through one series of superimposed units, illustrating the adjusting rod as in position in one of such units;

Figure 3 is an end view of one of the units;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the partition looking at the rear thereof.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a plurality of trough-shaped units each having bottom and side walls and equipped with lugs or feet which serve to locate the units in superimposed relation. In each unit there is provided a partition extending at right angles to the bottom and side walls and from which partition wings are bent which have a tendency to spread outwardly and frictionally engage the opposed side Walls so that the partition may be moved along the unit and held in adjusted position by reason of its frictional grip on the side walls. Adjustment may be performed through the open back of each unit by means of a rod with a hook which may ice 42 engage an eye in the partition and which rod has markings on it so that the position of the partition with relation to the rear end of the unit maybe known. Lips are provided at the opposite ends of the unit so as to raise the wires and make them more convenient to handle.-

With reference ,to the drawings, I have shown in Figure 1 nine units'in assembled relation, there being three units, 10116 superimposed upon the other in three rows. These units are all of identical formand each comprises .a bottom wall 10 andopposite side walls 11 and 12 bent upwardly therefrom and extending parallel to each other and at right angles to the bottom wall. The upper edges ofthese side walls' are flanged inwardly toward each other as at 13 and 14, which serve to provide a better seat for the unit .which is superimposed upon it, but which also serve as guides for an adjustable partition which will nowbe referred to;

The adjustable partition (see Figure 4) is shown as a sheet stockwall 1 5which is positioned at right angles to the bottom. wall 10and sidewalls 11 and 12 and ex- ;tendsfrorn one:sid-e wall to the other and from the top surface of the bottom wall 10 to a position spaced from but closely adjacent to the lips 13 and 14. This partition has rearwardly extending wings 16 bent from the partition 15 and which flare outwardly sufficiently so that they will frictionally engage the side walls 11 and 12 and maintain the partition in an adjusted position along the side walls. These wings are substantially the same height as the partition 15 and are guided between the bottom wall and the flanges 13 and 14 in the sliding of the partition lengthwise of the trough container unit.

An car 17 having an opening or eye 18 therein is secured to the rear surface of the partition 15 and serves as a means for engagement by the hook 19 of the rod 20 which has a handle portion 21 and which is graduated along its length as at 22 so that it may be used to slide the partition lengthwise of the unit and determine the position of the partition with reference to the rear edge 23 by reason of the markings 22 upon the rod 20. This rod may be detached from the partition as it has been moved to adjusted position and may be used for the adjusting of other partitions in other units as occasion may require.- By reason of the adjustment of this partition, it may serve to accommodate wires of different lengths such for instance as the wires 25 in one unit so that their ends 26 will extend the proper distance from the unit.

In order to raise these wires and position them for greater convenience in grasping by the fingers, a lip 27 is formed at the forward edge of the units which extends upwardly as at 28 and then slightly downwardly as at 29 for the supporting of the wire ends beyond the forward edge 30 of the assembly unit. A similar lip 27 is located at the other end of the unit, thus providing the unit symmetrical in all respects, it making no difference which end of the unit is forward and which end is rearward. The only distinction between forward and rearward edges of the unit will depend upon the partition 15 and its wings 16 which will be disposed from the partition toward the rear of the unit. This partition may be completely removed from the unit and assembled in the opposite direction if desired.

In order that the units may be stacked one upon the other, guiding lugs or feet 31 and 32 are provided on one side of the unit, and similar lugs or feet 31', 32' are provided on the other side of the unit for stacking these units one upon the other, the feet extending below the bottom wall so as to engage the upper edge of the side wall of a unit below when in superimposed relation. Further, the feet 31 and 31 are staggered with reference to each other so that the units may nest closer together in side by side relation as shown in Figure 1. Thus, the leg 31' will not engage the leg 31 of the unit side of it when these units are moved into contacting relation side by side as shown in Figure 1. l

I claim:

1. An assembly unit having an open top trough-like body open at each end, each unit comprising a bottom and side walls, horizontal flanges extending inwardly from the side walls to assist in stacking the units in superimposed relation with like units with the bottom wall of the superimposed unit closing the open top, a partition in a plane at right angles to said Walls, said partition be ing of a height no greater than the side walls and having wings extending therefrom normally flared outwardly and extending along the opposed side walls and in frictional contact therewith to hold the partition in different adjusted positions along said walls, a rod extending through one of said open ends and secured to said partition for adjusting the same while leaving the other open end free for the reception of articles.

2. An assembly unit as in claim 1 wherein said rod is detachably secured to said partition by means of an eye on said partition and a hook on said rod.

3. An assembly unit as in claim 1 wherein a lip is located at the work receiving end of the bottom wall and is raised abovethe same and projects beyond said side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 545,803 Klug Sept. 3, 1895 549,831 Steuer Nov. 12, 1895 901,069 Chelson et a1 Oct. 13, 1908 968,940 Harmison Aug. 30, 1910 1,008,239 Bunte Nov. 7, 1911 1,418,153 Lorber May 30, 1922 1,488,025 Poynter Mar. 24, 1924 1,688,003 Darby Oct. 16, 1928 1,702,987 Wilson Feb. 19, 1929 1,910,046 Pascoe May 23, 1933 2,245,126 Day June 10, 1941 2,334,825 Jones Nov. 23, 1943 2,455,706 Shaw Dec. 7, 1948 2,490,269 Johnson u Dec. 6, 1949 2,664,205 Shellman Dec. 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS j 176,263 Germany Oct. 12, 1906 Great Britain Jan. 27, 1926 

